Former Shrewsbury Town youth coach hails Joe Hart ahead of return with West Ham

West Ham keeper Hart is set to return to Shrewsbury Town for the first time, in a competitive fixture, since departing 12 years ago.

Former Town sharp-shooter Biggins recalls coaching the Shrewsbury Town Under-16 team in the Midland Floodlit League – a side that was drafted to test the ability of the young starlets in the club’s ranks.

Among the set-up, ran by Biggins and former head of youth Jamie Robinson, was Hart and Dave Edwards in their mid-teens – some 13 or so years later, the duo would go on to do battle as rivals in the European Championships of 2016.

But, even at a tender age ion the youth team, it was apparent that confident shot-stopper Hart had something special.

His dedication and desire to push himself to improve – and sheer will to play – were features that Biggins, 59, remembers well.

“Dave and Joe were about 16, still at school,” said Biggins, who now works part-time as a coach at The Shrewsbury School.

“Joe was sitting on the bench occasionally for the first team.

“At the time it was a good way of a) giving the full-time lads a game that weren’t playing regularly in the youth team, particularly under-17s, and b) the good under-16s to be tested to see how they coped in an under-18 fixture.

“To be honest, I don’t think Joe’s changed. He was excellent then as a schoolboy, his handling was great, attitude was first class and he’s gone on from strength to strength.

“Dave (Edwards) was exactly the same.”

When asked whether the club rated Hart as an exciting prospect from that age, Biggins replied: “Oh very much so, yes.

“Dave Timmins was the goalkeeping coach, he obviously had an awful lot to do with his development.

“We were just giving youth-team players as many games as we possibly could to see how they were developing really.”

Hart’s passion for playing was so strong that Biggins remembers how his wife Wendy had to drive to the youngster’s Shrewsbury home to collect him one school holiday morning and rush him over in time for a match.

“He was definitely dedicated and committed to push himself,” said the ex-Town striker, a part of the title-winning side of 1979 that also reached the FA Cup sixth round against Wolves.

“Joe would do anything to come down the training ground and play.

“I can remember that something was happening at the training ground, where the new one is now, and somebody needed a goalkeeper.

“My wife drove over to his house to pick him up for the game just one morning in the holidays, when he wasn’t at school.

“It was no trouble to be picked up and come down and train with everyone else.”

Hart made 58 appearances in all competitions for his hometown side before leaving for Manchester City for £600,000.

The 30-year-old has since won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups, while also earning 75 England caps.

Now on loan at the London Stadium, Hart lost his No.1 spot under David Moyes to Spaniard Adrian, but ex-Town man Moyes is likely to call on Hart as he fields a much-changed side following the Hammers’ busy schedule.

Biggins, who is still in touch with Hart’s father Charlie, wants to see the former Oxon Primary School and Meole Brace School pupil and ex-Shrewsbury cricketer given the shirt between the sticks.

“It’ll be fantastic if he does play,” Biggins added. “I still see his dad and meet him. He follows Joe all over the place. Charlie is a superfan! He’s so dedicated, just like Joe, that’s where he gets it from, his dad.”